Australian and New Zealand
Optical Society    

  • 09 Feb 2023 9:27 AM | Michael Steel (Administrator)

    ANZOS is delighted to congratulate our member and 2021 W.H. (Beattie) Steel Award winner, Professor Emeritus Peter Hannaford, on being named as a Companion in the Order of Australia (AC) in the most recent round of awards announced on 26  January 2023. 

    Peter was cited "for eminent service to science, particularly to experimental physics, as an academic and researcher, to professional institutions, and as a role model for young scientists".

    The AC is the highest rank of civilian award in the Order of Australia system and only six were awarded in this round, so this is truly outstanding mark of achievement.

    Here is Peter receiving the Society's highest honour, the W. H. (Beattie) Steel medal in early 2022 from former ANZOS Councillor and Treasurer Prof. Arnan Mitchell.

  • 03 Dec 2022 10:04 AM | Michael Steel (Administrator)

    ANZOS is currently seeking to appoint a part time administration officer to play a significant role in the Society's effort to expand services to members and grow the membership. The initial appointment will be for fixed term for one year at 9 hours per week. 

    The role will involve a range of online administrative duties including communicating and supporting members, engaging with external stakeholders, supporting preparation of the Society newsletter, maintaining and improving the Society web site, and developing strategies to grow membership.  The successful candidate will report to and work closely with the Society's leadership team. 

    The role will be performed largely remotely and application is open to all qualified persons in either Australia or New Zealand.

    Selection of the role will be made in accordance with the Society’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion policy (www.optics.org.au/Equity). We strongly encourage applications from persons identifying with one or more groups that have historically experienced discrimination and under-representation in STEM fields.

    Full details, selection criteria and instructions on how to apply are provided in this document.

    Applications close on 15 January 2023.

  • 28 Oct 2022 10:24 AM | Alexander Fuerbach (Administrator)

    ANZOS congratulates Professor Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop on receiving the 2022 Moyal Medal. The Moyal Medal is awarded annually by Macquarie University for research contributions to mathematics, physics or statistics – the areas of research of the late Professor José Enrique Moyal. 

    Prof. Rubinsztein-Dunlop was awarded the medal for her groundbreaking work in the fields of sculpted light, micromanipulation and nano-optics where she has been on the forefront of International research for many years.


  • 11 Apr 2022 5:12 PM | Michael Steel (Administrator)

    ANZOS congratulates long time member and Beattie Steel winner Prof. Yuri Kivshar of the Australian National University for his receipt of the Optica Max Born Award. The citation notes Yuri's "pioneering and ground-breaking research in nonlinear metamaterials and all-dielectric resonant metaphotonics that derives unique optical functionalities from electric and magnetic dipolar and multipolar Mie-type resonances underpinning new discoveries in nonlinear and topological nanophotonics". 

    Established in 1982, the Born Award recognizes outstanding contributions to physical optics, theoretical or experimental. It honors Max Born, who made distinguished contributions to physics in general and optics in particular.


  • 11 Apr 2022 5:02 PM | Michael Steel (Administrator)

    European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC) 2022
    CLEO/Europe Focus Meeting (co-located)

    Website: ecoc.info

    Dates: 18 – 22 September 2022
    Location: Congress Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    Submission Site Open

    Abstract and Summary Submission Deadline: 10 May 2022, 18:00 (CEST, UTC+2:00)
    Author Notifications: 23 June 2022
    Advance Registration Deadline: 01 August 2022
    Author instructions: https://ecoc.info/author-info/author-instructions

    About the Conference

    The European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC) is the continent’s largest event in the field and one of the most prestigious and traditional events on optical communications worldwide.

    Major Topic Categories

    • ·      Novel Fibres, Fibre Devices & Amplifiers
    • ·      Photonic Devices & Technologies
    • ·      Photonic Integrated Circuits, Assemblies & Packaging
    • ·      Techniques for Digitally Enhancing Optical Communication
    • ·      Theory of Optical Communications
    • ·      Optical Transmission Systems
    • ·      Core & Metro Networks
    • ·      Access, Indoor & Short-Reach for Data Centres and Mobile Networks
    • ·      Photonics for RF & Free-Space Optics Applications
    • ·      Architecture, Control & Management of Optical Networks
    • ·      CLEO®/Europe Focus Meeting (co-located)
    •       Quantum Photonics
    •       Novel Photonic Materials & Effects
    •       Emerging Photonic Devices, Technologies & Applications


  • 11 Apr 2022 4:53 PM | Michael Steel (Administrator)

    This week, STA President Mark Hutchinson and I gave evidence to the Senate hearing on the Australian Research Council Amendment (Ensuring Research Independence Bill). Our full submission is here.  

    On your behalf, we made a strong case that there is no need for a Ministerial power to approve individual research grants for funding because Australia has a rigorous and robust system of expert peer review and national science and research priorities set by the Government.

    There always needs to be accountability for public spending – that’s an important principle. 

    But the best way to achieve that doesn’t require Ministerial involvement in approving hundreds and hundreds of individual grants in specialised fields of knowledge outside of their expertise.

    Indeed, the Westminster traditions on which Australia’s democracy was modelled enshrine the Haldane principle of research independence. In the UK, Governments and Ministers set the overarching strategic research priorities, but individual grants are decided by expert peer review.

    The Australian Research Council has rigorous and robust grant assessment procedures guided by the top experts in each field. Given this, there is no need for a Ministerial power of approval. 

    We also reiterated our call for fixed dates for ARC grant applications, approvals, and recipient notifications to be set and published three years ahead. This is key to bring certainty to both industry and researchers. 

    Views were strongly aligned across the sector, including the Australian Institute of Physics, the learned academies and university peak bodies and vice-chancellors.  

    This year’s Science meets Parliament was a triumph - our biggest and most successful event ever. Our huge thanks to everyone who supported it as a delegate, speaker, or sponsor. A record-breaking 528 delegates had an incredible week of professional development, networking, and skills building.

    Some of the many highlights in 2022 included:

    • A fireside chat with Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty on the power of science in our era;
    • Global media stars Professor Brian Cox and Wiradjuri astrophysicist Kirsten Banks in conversation on the importance of clear science communication to tackle misinformation and disinformation; and
    • STA President Professor Mark Hutchinson outlining a vision for how Australia can take more of our great science and technology breakthroughs from the lab “bench to boardroom”.  

    This week, Science meets Parliament delegates met with MPs and Senators to discuss their science. This included an inspiring meeting with Science and Technology Minister Melissa Price MP.

    Huge thanks to the whole team at STA who brought together the 22nd Science meets Parliament with such skill, talent and a prodigious amount of work. Here’s a tiny glimpse from behind the scenes.  

    And it’s not over yet! On 2 June, we’ll bring together STEM leaders and policymakers for in-person dinners in all eight capital cities across Australia hosted by our MC, ABC star Nate Byrne – tickets are open to the whole STEM community. 
     
    If you haven’t yet done the SmP2022 delegate survey, please do so. This feedback ensures Science meets Parliament will continue to be a great success connecting the science and technology community with decision-makers.

    Finally, the 2022 Federal Budget will be handed down on Tuesday 29 March. Please join us for our STA members-only post-Budget briefing on Thursday 31 March at 2pm AEDT. Register here.

    Until next time, 

    Misha Schubert 
    CEO, Science & Technology Australia 

    STA MEMBER ONLY EVENT | POST-BUDGET BRIEFING

    The 2022 Federal Budget will be handed down on Tuesday 29 March. On Thursday 31 March, we will hold an exclusive STA members-only post-Budget briefing. This session will cover STEM-related announcements in the Budget, share additional information on how proposed measures may affect the STEM sector, and next steps for engagement or consultation on any Budget announcements.
    2pm AEDT | 1.30pm ACDT | 1pm AEST | 12.30pm ACST | 11am AWST
    Each member organisation can send up to two representatives. Registration is essential.


  • 11 Apr 2022 4:50 PM | Michael Steel (Administrator)

    The World General Congress for Optics and Photonics of the International Commission for Optics (ICO) and the international society on Optics Within Life Sciences (OWLS) will be celebrated from 5th September to 9th September 2022 in Dresden, Germany.

    See this info sheet for details.

    Abstract submission at the website seems to be still open.

  • 11 Apr 2022 4:43 PM | Michael Steel (Administrator)

    The Australian Academy of Science has published a position statement in relation to the current Federal Election in Australia.

    Click here to access the document.


  • 23 Aug 2021 9:06 AM | Michael Steel (Administrator)

    ANZOS wishes to express its deep alarm at the Australian Research Council's decision to rule numerous DECRA and Future Fellowship grants in the recent grant cycle ineligible on the basis of citation of preprints and arxiv papers by authors other than the applicant. 

    Citation of relevant arxiv works is ubiquitous practice in optics and physics and is an essential part of accurately reflecting the state of the art in a professional manner in many sub-fields of our discipline. Grant applicants are placed in an impossible position by this policy which prohibits them from appropriately acknowledging prior literature and thereby risks criticism from reviewers for misrepresenting the background to a proposal.

    ANZOS urges the ARC to reevaluate this policy and its impact on applicants as a highest priority. We are in consultation with partner stakeholder organisations regarding formal communications with the ARC. 

  • 04 Dec 2020 1:15 PM | Yiqing Lu (Administrator)

    The ANZOS is pleased to announce the recipients of 2020 ANZOS Awards, as summarised in

    https://optics.org.au/2020prizes

    Our warmest congratulations to the new awardees!

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